The Above Average Awards 2016

Another year gone by, and another successful year of film-watching for this spotty movie blogger! While 2016 may not have been the most impressive film year, it did provide quite a number of pleasant surprises for me, and a surprisingly good film is often more impactful than an expectedly great film. If that doesn't make sense, let me point to low-budget underdog, Moonlight, which surprised enough people to be considered one of best films of the year. While there are a number of things that I enjoy about going to the movies, there is nothing more thrilling than clinging to the hope that a film will sneak up and become one your favorites of the month, year, decade, or all time. In reality, everything you've ever known about movies has the potential to be challenged and adjusted in a 2-hour span of time. If that doesn't excite you, I don't know what will...

In the past, I have done a separate post for my comedy and drama categories, but, this year, I decided to reduce it down to one giant list, in hopes that everyone gets to see my favorites from 2016 and how they stack up against each other. While I don't do much blogging any more, I do still watch a heck of a lot of movies, but, regardless, there is no way that I could ever get to every film that was made this year. So, if your favorite 2016 film isn't on my list, there is a chance that I haven't seen it. Don't be too quick to judge!

Best Actress

Honorable Mention: Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad)

#7 - Imogen Poots

Green Room

Honestly, I can't say that I've ever noticed the existence of Imogen Poots before watching Green Room, but I am certainly interested to see where her career heads. Her performance was subtly brilliant among the chaos of a horror/thriller flick, and her name is Imogen, which will always be enough to interest me!

#6 - Rima Te Wiata

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Rima Te Miata's time on the screen was very limited, during Hunt for the Wilderpeople, but her presence was felt throughout the entire film. Her fun, goofy, loving nature was responsible for setting up the successful relationship between Ricky and Hec, which was quite impressive. Although she is unlikely to be remembered by many for this performance, I will never forget!

#5 - Tilda Swinton

Hail, Caesar!

For the second year in a row, Tilda Swinton lands on my best list for yet another great comedic turn. With the large ensemble of Hail, Caesar!, it was easy to lose great performances, but Swinton's really stood out to me. Swinton may be one of the oddest individuals in Hollywood, but she sure can make me laugh!

#4 - Amy Adams

Arrival

Amy Adams has always been an underwhelming actress, in my opinion, but her performance in Arrival gave me a new appreciation for what she can do. Her subtle, yet emotional, performance brought the drama surrounding Arrival to life, which was quite frightening, considering the subject matter. Thanks Amy, but I like my aliens a little less realistic!

#3 - Michelle Williams

Manchester by the Sea

With Casey Affleck's amazing turn in Manchester by the Sea, the performance of Michelle Williams would have likely fallen by the wayside had it not been Michelle Williams filling the role. Every other filmmaker has to be jealous of Kenneth Lonergan for his being able to get her to fill this role. What Williams did with such a short time on screen was absolutely stunning.

#2 - Melanie Lynskey

The Intervention

In a film that I have a feeling wasn't seen by very many people, Melanie Lynskey gave what was undoubtedly the funniest performance of 2016. Her character was so annoying and oblivious, but I couldn't help laughing at both the character and Lynskey's wholehearted delivery of her performance. The Intervention probably won't be anyone's favorite film of 2016, but I would suggest giving it a shot, if only for Lynsey's performance. 

#1 - Emma Stone

La La Land

For the second time in the history of the Above Average Awards, Emma Stone has found herself on top of my best actress list, making her the only person to top my list multiple times, aside from the great Jonah Hill. Sure, I've always had an affinity for Stone's acting, but she is truly becoming one of the best in the business. La La Land is absolutely driven by her stellar performance and lovely vocals, each of which could alone earn her an Oscar, in my opinion. If you're not an Emma Stone fan, I understand. But, if you are, I think we might just be warming up on her great career!

Best Actor

Honorable Mention: Julian Dennison (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Armie Hammer (Nocturnal Animals), Kevin Hart (The Secret Life of Pets), George MacKay (Captain Fantastic), Ashton Sanders (Moonlight), Charlie Shotwell (Captain Fantastic), Will Smith (Suicide Squad), Ben Whishaw (The Lobster)

#9 - Jeff Bridges
Hell or High Water

Jeff Bridges has always had enough character to be a movie star, without even acting a single minute. Thankfully, we have been blessed to see him become one of the great performers of our time, and his turn in Hell or High Water did nothing but further his legacy. The physicality of this performance was so perfect that I couldn't help but enjoy every moment that Bridges was on screen.

#8 - Temple Baker & Glen Powell
Everybody Wants Some!!

The entire cast of Everybody Wants Some!! was great, but the performances of Temple Baker (village idiot) and Glen Powell (wise old leader) really blew me away. These guys were so perfectly cast and had me rolling laughing every single moment that they were around. Could we get a spinoff, maybe?!?!?

#7 - Ryan Gosling

La La Land

Ryan Gosling may not be winning a Grammy anytime soon, but the guy can most certainly act. In fact, Gosling's turn in La La Land earns him his third spot on my best actor list, after previously making it for The Ides of March and The Big Short. In my opinion, there isn't another actor that has made better casting decisions, over the past several years, than Gosling. The guy never picks a dud... ever! If nothing else, you have to respect that.

#6 - Viggo Mortensen
Captain Fantastic

No Oscar nom announcement made me happier than seeing Viggo Mortensen earn a best acting nod for Captain Fantastic. His performance really was quite impressive, and it probably would have shone even more if his supporting cast had not have been so very strong. Kudos to Mortensen for taking on this challenging role and blowing me away.

#5 - Michael Shannon

Nocturnal Animals 

If Ryan Gosling has been the best at picking roles, over the past several years, Michael Shannon is probably a close second. Shannon gets better with every single performance, and the past two years have really taken him to another level. His performance in Nocturnal Animals was so impressive, and he made it all look so easy. I'm fast becoming a believer in Shannon as an anchor for any film in which he might be involved. 

#4 - Alden Ehrenreich

Hail, Caesar!

Everyone will soon know Alden Ehrenreich as young Han Solo, and, if Hail Caesar! is any indication of his talents, young Solo may give old Solo a run for his money! There wasn't a single scene in 2016 that made me laugh more than Ehrenreich's "would if it were so simple" pronunciation snafu. If you don't enjoy Coen Brothers humor, Hail Caesar! may not be for you, but, for me, it worked great!

#3 - Karl Urban

Star Trek Beyond

It isn't easy for actors to shine when reprising classic roles in remakes, but Karl Urban has been praised for his ability to rock the character of Bones in both of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek films. However, nothing surprised me more than my sheer fascination with Urban's performance the third time through, in Star Trek Beyond. Urban was not only hilariously likable, but his chemistry with Zachary Quinto and devotion to the character absolutely blew me away. If you've never paid much attention to Urban's performance as Bones, please take this as a challenge to review the most recent Star Trek universe.

#2 - Lucas Hedges
Manchester by the Sea

OscarsoWHITE, OscarsoMALE, and OscarsoOLD... Unfortunately for Lucas Hedges, the last Oscar-fault will likely cost him a supporting actor Oscar that he is 100% deserving of. Hedges absolutely blew me away with his performance in this film, beautifully portraying the very complex character of Patrick. It's easy to brush away the teenage character and performance, but Hedges was confident, heartbroken, caring, selfish, selfless, and funny, creating a brilliant character in a brilliant film. Kudos to Hedges--I can't wait to see what his future might hold!

#1 - Casey Affleck
Manchester by the Sea

We've all used silence to portray our emotions, at different points in our life, but the way that Casey Affleck used the absence of words to speak to his audience was unlike anything that I have ever seen on screen. Personally, I am a sucker for over-acting in scenes that are specifically written to heighten emotions and win acting awards. Subtle acting can absolutely impress me, but Affleck blew me away with his subtle brilliance. His introspective performance felt so tangible, and I just can't say enough to praise his effort in this film. If you haven't seen Manchester, prepare yourself for an emotional experience, brought to life by Casey Affleck.

Best Film 

Honorable Mention: Arrival, Finding Dory, Hail Caesar!

#7 - La La Land

La La Land was undoubtedly the most popular #1 atop everyone's 2016 best lists, and it is likely to take home the Oscar for Best Picture. While it may not be at the top of my list, I must say that the film is quite impressive, particularly considering my distaste for most musicals. La La Land overcame its musical roots with amazing performances by its stars, beautifully designed and directed scenes, and catchy songs that have since required many repeats in Apple Music. The film has several flaws that do turn me off, but, ultimately, it left me thinking for a week or two after I saw it... and that's how a film garners success in my book.

#6 - Star Trek Beyond

As someone who loved both Star Trek and Into Darkness (and anything else made by J.J. Abrams), I was saddened that the trailers for Star Trek Beyond were so very disappointing. Thankfully, the film was beyond impressive, with Justin Lin creating something both entertaining and visually pleasing. If you gave up on Star Trek after Into Darkness, please give Star Trek Beyond a shot--you will not be disappointed!

#5 - Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Based on the critical praise for Hunt for the Wilderpeople, I didn't have much of a choice but to watch the film. Not really knowing what to expect, this film snuck up and blew me away with its hilarious characters and witty sense of humor. This film is likely the most obscure of any film on my best list, this year, but I promise that it is worth a shot. If you have Hulu, you can stream it for free. Trust me... take a chance!

#4 - Everybody Wants Some!!

Everybody Wants Some!! was this year's biggest example of a terribly marketed film. In a world that is lacking in good comedic films, Everybody Wants Some!! had a chance to stand out and become a cult classic, in the same vein as its spiritual prequel--Dazed and Confused. The few that did see it were blessed with a hilarious combination of simple humor, genius dialogue, and terrific acting from a band of misfit baseball players. The 80s nostalgia isn't going away anytime soon, and this film is yet another reason to love that fact!!

#3 - Captain America: Civil War

After what feels like decades of watching films from the Marvel cinematic universe, I feared that the superheroes might have long surpassed their peak likability. Age of Ultron was a mess, and future films are set to focus on obscure characters who I couldn't care less about. Thankfully, Civil War revived the Avengers by (gently) pitting America's favorite team against itself, using a storyline that was actually very well-constructed and not overly predictable. Kudos to Marvel for giving us at least one more great superhero film!

#2 - Captain Fantastic

For most of 2016, I thought that Captain Fantastic was destined to top my yearly best list, and, while it may not have been able to hang on to the top spot, it is undoubtedly the most uniquely interesting film of the year. Viggo Mortensen gives an amazing performance, alongside the near-perfect casting of the six children who are the true heart of the film. Without shoving its ideas in your face, Captain Fantastic presented us with one of the greatest (and most frightening) pictures of the pressures and importance of parenting. What an amazing film!

#1 - Manchester by the Sea

In my opinion, no other 2016 film was as technically sound or as utterly emotional as Manchester by the Sea, and, thinking back, it's hard to remember any other film that contained this much pain and kept from feeling overly dark. Great performances from Affleck, Hedges, and Williams and the detailed direction of Kenneth Lonergan came together to create something absolutely stunning--a film that cannot be ignored by your emotions. So many people have focused in on the sadness of this film, but the humor throughout makes it an absolute delight, even with the moments that are tough to stomach. Honesty is at the heart of Manchester by the Sea, and, from that honesty, the sadness, humor, frustration, and depth of the film are drawn. 

Some people get fairytale endings. Some people get closure in three acts. But, unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky. I learned from Manchester by the Sea that pain, guilt, and life aren't always as easy to conquer as most movies make them out to be. And, while that may mean a sad movie for some, it meant something beautiful to me. 

There it is, folks--my favorites in film from 2016! If you haven't seen some or any of the films on my list, please take the time to check out the trailers and the films. They probably aren't all for you, but I promise you will find something that you enjoy...

Must See TV: Emmy's 2016

Very few things have been able to pull me from my blog hibernation, over the past year, but the Emmy's can make me do anything. So, here I am, prepared to share with you my TV best-list from the 2015-2016 television season. For the record, only seasons of shows that aired between June 2015 and May 2016 are being considered for the list. Anything that has aired since May will be included in next year's list (I'm talking to you, Stranger Things).

Also, know that there are a number of great shows that I really love that didn't quite make the cut, this year. Fortunately, there is always hope for next year!

In case you are interested in comparing, here is last year's Top 10:

1. The Last Man on Earth (Season 1 - FOX)
2. Orange is the New Black (Season 2 - Netflix)
3. The Big Bang Theory (Season 8 - CBS)
4. Bloodline (Season 1 - Netflix)
5. How to Get Away with Murder (Season 1 - ABC
6. The Colbert Report (Season 11 - Comedy Central)
7. The Newsroom (Season 3 - HBO)
8. American Horror Story: Freak Show (Season 4 - FX)
9. The Celebrity Apprentice (Season 14 - NBC)
10. The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (Season 2 - NBC)

Now, on to the good stuff...

10. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

(Season 2 - HBO)

In a world with no Colbert Report and no Jon Stewart, John Oliver has happily filled a void that, in the midst of an insane election year, absolutely must be filled. While I do love British humor, Oliver has done a great job of Americanizing his humor for many years, and, for some reason, his passion for his stories truly feels stronger and much more serious than than the stories of Colbert and Stewart. Kudos to Oliver for finding his niche and giving America something to laugh at!

9. The Last Man on Earth

(Season 2 - FOX)

Last year, The Last Man on Earth topped my tv best-list and truly blew me away with its unique form of humor. Unfortunately, season 2 felt a bit drawn out and lacking in creativity (likely because of the greatness of season 1). However, the show was still fantastic and remains, in my opinion, the most creative show on any of the big four networks.

8. Mr. Robot

(Season 1 - USA)

I was extremely late to join the Mr. Robot bandwagon, but there is no doubt that USA has a gem on their hands. Not only is the story intriguing, but the show is so visually impressive that I would often get lost in a scene because of the impressive direction and camerawork. The hacker jargon goes way over my head, but the characters are so well-written that everything makes sense anyway. Mr. Robot is definitely worth the hype!

7. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

(Season 1 - FX)

O.J. Simpson has taken the world by storm, once again, and, while it might eventually get old, I'm kind of digging it! As a big fan of Ryan Murphy and his FX ventures, I was an easy target for American Crime Story, and, while this season was cinematically wonderful, I cannot wait to see what Murphy and crew have in store for next year's Katrina-based storyline. Hold on to your seats, folks! We've only just begun!

6. Life in Pieces

(Season 1 - CBS)

As the lone new network show that I enjoyed, in 2016, Life in Pieces provided viewers a new, fun family that everyone could love and laugh at. The show may not be breaking any giant molds, but the cast is so great that they really don't need anything else. Anyone else looking forward to Life in Pieces season 2?

5. New Girl

(Season 5 - FOX)

New Girl had totally lost its way in seasons 3 and 4, but, for the few that were able to hang in there through the disaster, season 5 brought a breath of fresh air. We can only hope that the show continues to get back on track with season 6, and, also, we can hope that FOX won't blow through all 20-ish episodes in three weeks, as they did in 2016. 

4. The Man in the High Castle

(Season 1 - Amazon)

The lack of Emmy recognition (or even snub-recognition) for The Man in the High Castle is absolutely baffling to me. Unfortunately, there probably weren't enough viewers to initiate a Mr. Robot-esque takeover of awards season, but the show is truly a masterpiece that keeps you guessing, throughout. There are so many television shows to choose from, right now, but very few of them leave you wanting for answers in the way that The Man in the High Castle does. Go check it out!

3. Master of None

(Season 1 - Netflix)

Master of None's success at stacking up Emmy nominations was a surprise to many, but I'm not sure why everyone was so shocked. This show is genius! While there were a couple of episodes that didn't quite work, the bulk of season 1 was near perfection, and that's coming from someone who isn't really a huge Aziz Ansari fan. Master of None has a little something for everyone, and I can almost guarantee that you will find at least two or three episodes that blow you away.

2. Orange is the New Black

(Season 3 - Netflix)

As is the case with every year, Orange is the New Black lags a season behind the awards show, because of its release date. And, while I really want to use this time to talk about how amazing season 4 is, let's focus on season 3, which really helped the show transition from Piper-world to prison-world. Kudos to Jenji Kohan for allowing the show to continually evolve into what is has become, rather than sticking us with hours of Piper, just to weed through to the good parts. If you gave up on Orange is the New Black because of Piper Chapman, please return. She's still here, but not NEARLY as much!

1. How to Get Away with Murder

(Season 2 - ABC)

I watch a number of new television shows, each and every year, and, while I do enjoy a number of them, the long term outlook for these shows isn't always as pleasant as the present. Upon the completion of How to Get Away with Murder season 1, I was 90% sure that this show would be a one year fling that completely loses its way in season 2. Fortunately, in my decision to question Shondaland's brilliance, I was completely and totally wrong. Not only was season 2 of Murder better than season 1, but it was my favorite show of the 2015-16 television season--by far! Nothing else comes anywhere close! And, unlike the ending to season 1, the ending to season 2 absolutely blew me away and established a murderous formula that I believe has a good chance of living on for a number of years to come. 

Another great TV year, in the books! Take a look at this list, and you'll know who I will be cheering on, during tonight's Emmy's ceremony. 

Isn't TV just the bomb?!?

Suicide Squad

Expectations:
As superhero films continue to spiral out of control, Warner Brothers was happy to bring us Guardians of the Galaxy 1.5--a.k.a. Suicide Squad. And, of course, I was happy to watch--partly because of the hype and excitement that accents every new superhero franchise... but mostly because of the promise of the Caped Crusader and Will Smith. For the most part, I tried to avoid the (daily) new Suicide Squad trailers, for the sake of actually being a little surprised and interested during the film. Then, the reviews and criticism began to flow in, and many people preached that the trailers were actually better (and completely different) than the film. As a result, my expectations were not very high, but, really... Will Smith... So, who cares.

Spoilers ahead...

Plot:
A lot of fuss has been made over the Joker's absence throughout much of this film, and, while some might argue that the film would be much improved with more Joker, I must disagree. A large problem with this film sat right in the Enchantress's heart (or lack thereof). Not only was every Enchantress moment overly dramatic, but the whole bit with her being in love with the unbearable army dude (Joel Kinnaman) was terrible. However, the Suicide Squad and their magic powers are not quite necessary to take down the Joker, making a supernatural villain a necessity. But, the biggest problem--by far--was the lack of cohesion among the Suicide "Squad." Unfortunately, the film felt more like the Suicide Individuals because there was never a moment to bring everyone together. Each and every squad member had their motives, which the film spent time establishing, but there was never any reason for them to make sacrifices for one another, which they managed to do numerous times anyway.

Characters:
As I said before, the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) and her lover-boy were unbearable, but the "Psylocke Award" for useless characters goes to Karen Fukuhara's Katana, who did absolutely nothing but stare at her sword. Literally, that's all she did. Thankfully, the rest of the cast was decent or great, even if they didn't interact particularly well with one another. As expected, Margot Robbie was spot-on as Harley Quinn, really piquing my interest in the character and her portrayal, as well her strange and intriguing relationship with the Joker. And, very unexpectedly, Jai Courtney was wonderfully cast, as Boomerang--a character that didn't accomplish very much but certainly provided laughs and a little bit of group cohesiveness.

But, the real hero of this film was the wonderful, the talented, the MAN himself... Mr. Will Smith. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time that I loved Will Smith in an action role, but boy did I miss him so very much. There was once as day when Will Smith was my favorite actor, and his turn as Deadshot helped me recall those glorious days. We can only hope that he continues to choose great roles and focuses on himself a little more than those crazy children of his.

Conclusion:
My expectations for Suicide Squad were not very high, but, even so, the film could have been much better than it was. There was so much potential, with Smith and Robbie blowing the roof off of their respective performances, yet we ended up with a mediocre film that was critically despised. But, to all the Will Smith fans out there, looking for hope in an action-movie world filled with The Rock, Chris Hemworth, and, logically, Harrison Ford, I would encourage you to check Suicide Squad out. If you're anything like me, you'll be so excited to love Will Smith that everything else will just fade away! I give Suicide Squad 2.88 out of 5 stars.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

So, I actually wrote this review right after Batman v Superman was released and quickly became to busy to remember to post it. Now, I've remembered, and you get to recall your feelings toward this film. 

Isn't that nice?!?

Expectations:

Disaster of the year?... Possibly. Disaster of the decade?... Probably. 

Batman is my favorite superhero (by a large margin), and I truly adore the Nolan-directed Dark Knight trilogy, which deserves as much praise as it can possibly receive, critical or otherwise. Nolan changed all superhero movies... forever! Even Marvel wants to be a little bit darker! But, they will never be able to touch the baddies of Nolan's Bat-universe. Regardless, there was no bone in body that expected Batman v Superman to even come close to Nolan's films. Ben Affleck could never top Christian Bale. Henry Cavill could never get me interested in Superman. And, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor? I mean, what's up with that? 

Plot/Characters:

First and foremost, let me say that Zack Snyder's ridiculous, pre-film request to avoid spoilers was absolutely unnecessary. Did he think Batman v Superman was going to be discussed like Star Wars or something? I don't understand that? Anyway, I'm going to spoil a few things, in this section. So, proceed with caution...

For a film that I thought would be an absolute disaster, I was overwhelmingly surprised by how much I enjoyed watching everything unfold. Sure, it was simple and dumb, at times, and there were several huge, gaping holes in the story. But, overall, it was a lot of fun and truly intrigued me, with regard to how Batman and Superman would "v" one another. And, don't worry, I wasn't in a super critic-friendly mood. As soon as I saw Thomas and Martha Wayne pop up for yet another rendition of their untimely deaths, I was ready to run screaming.

Ultimately, my favorite thing about the film was how Affleck's Batman already had a history and seemed to have the same darkness and coolness that we came to know and love with Bale's Batman, without us having to endure the origin story. And, while it is certainly tough to sit through Henry Cavill playing any character, Superman's own crises were well-founded, and the scene with Superman arriving at the Capitol Building was pretty awesome, even if the outcome was terribly telegraphed.

The biggest flaw in the film was the disastrous Martha Kent, played by Diane Lane. First, in a film filled with 300 cameos, we truly could have done without Martha Kent. Second, why is Superman able to sweep in from some random, hallucinatory mountaintop and rescue Lois Lane, but he can't take the time to rescue his mother from the back alley of her diner? Third, and most ridiculous, what kind of superhero hears his dead mother's name, and immediately forgets every piece of vengeance in his heart, and decides to follow the god of Superman to the ends of the earth? Take Martha Kent out of this film, and everything improves--10 times over. The second biggest flaw in this film was the blatantly unnecessary plugs for the Justice League characters that were absent from this film. Nobody cares about Aquaman or Cyborg, and The Flash already had a cameo. So, why do you need to have some secret file with convenient video evidence that these people exist? A: YOU DON'T.

However, I will defend one character that has been questioned since the first trailer for Batman v Superman was released--Lex Luthor. There is one reason, and one reason only, that The Dark Knight is considered the best of the Nolan-directed Batfilms... The Joker. And, when the Joker has already been delegated to another DC film and there is no hope of ever reaching Heath Ledger's villainous performance, what is Zack Snyder supposed to do? Well, this one is easy. You just turn Lex Luthor into a younger, makeup-less joker and see what happens. But, little did Snyder know that viewers would be attached to the Lex Luthor of old, even if they hadn't considered the character in 20 years. I've yet to understand why people think that a different version of Lex Luthor is automatically a bad version of Lex Luthor. There were things about the character that I didn't enjoy, particularly the most dramatic hair-shaving sequence this side of Les Mis. But, ultimately, he was just meant to move the plot along and bring Batman and Superman together, and even Lex Luthor didn't expect that a woman's NAME would cause Batman to rethink his entire life.

Conclusion:
If it wasn't so easy to find flaws within the film's attempt to create drama and establish a broader DC universe, more people would be open to seeing just how fun Batman v Superman really was. Obviously, that is a sad excuse to make for any film, but I truly believe that people should ignore the critics on this one, go watch the movie, and have a good time! It was an easy watch with plenty of action and solid characters. Sure, they were characters that we already knew, but, if I had a dollar for every time that I've had to re-imagine Spiderman, I would at least be able to buy my ticket to Captain America v Iron Man. In a world where The Avengers are a bunch of has-beens, Batman v Superman is a breath of fresh darkness, and I look forward to what comes next. I give Batman v Superman 3.14 out of 5 stars

The Above Average Awards: Drama 2015

***This post has given me trouble on the blog, for some reason. It was accidentally published by my dog in January (as she literally stepped on my mousepad and published it), but it was released, in completion, on February 27. Regardless, enjoy...

When I decided to cut back on my blogging, earlier this year, I had no idea of the immediate effect that it would have on the number of films that I watch. I mean, without any expectation to share my opinion, I definitely cut back on watching films that I wasn't particularly excited to see. Nonetheless, when it came time for awards season and every "award-worthy" 2015 film was released in the short span of three months, I quickly regained my desire to hit the theater. Something about good movies just makes you want to watch more good movies. And, something about Avengers: Age of Ultron just makes you want to denounce the name of Disney.

So, as you check out my 2015 best list, know that I didn't see as many films, this year. However, I likely only missed the crappy ones...

Best Actor

Honorable Mention: Christian Bale (The Big Short), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), Michael Keaton (Spotlight), Ryan Reynolds (Mississippi Grind), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Benicio del Toro (Sicario)

#9 - Ryan Gosling
(The Big Short)

For the second time since the creation of The Above Average Awards, Ryan Gosling is landing on my yearly best list (The Ides of March), and I'm really stoked that he continues to choose such great films. Who knew that the dancing fool from Remember the Titans would go on to do such great things?!? In an ensemble that absolutely blew me away, Gosling was one of the best. And, the jokes from his best scene--the one with the Jenga set--were highly improvised. Another great accomplishment for an actor who gave an amazing performance!

#8 - Liev Schrieber 
(Spotlight)

If you ever told me that Liev Schrieber would one day land on one of my yearly best lists, I probably would have laughed in your face. Honestly, I can't say that I've ever enjoyed seeing Schrieber on any screen, but his turn in Spotlight is so subtly amazing that I couldn't help but add him to my list. Essentially, his level of under-acting produced the best performance of Schrieber's lengthy career. Subtlety is undoubtedly the theme of the acting, throughout Spotlight, and Schrieber pulls off that subtlety better than anyone else.

#7 - John Cusack and Paul Dano

(Love & Mercy)

My love for The Beach boys knows no bounds! When I was little, my parents and I would jam out to their greatest hits CD--every. single. summer. And, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Thankfully, Love & Mercy gave me an even closer look at my favorite musical group of all time, and the great performances by both Paul Dano and John Cusack were amazing to watch. I could not decide which performance was better and both were so necessary to the success of the film. So, here they are... together, as they were always meant to be! 

  

#6 - Sharlto Copley

(Chappie)

My defense of Sharlto Copley as one of the most underrated actors is not subtle, if you are familiar with this blog. Unfortunately, the critical mass has failed to appreciate what he has accomplished, because they are so concerned with picking apart Neill Blomkamp. However, if you've seen Chappie, you can't help but love the innocent robot that is so easily humanized by Copley's movements and voice. This is the second year that Copley has landed on my list (last time for Elysium), and I can't wait to sing his praises again, soon!

#5 - Jason Segel
(The End of the Tour)

When looking at Jason Segal's full body of work as an actor, he has to be one of the least impressive actors to ever find success in Hollywood. He has zero range and lacks the ability to independently create laughter. So, I must say that I never would have imagined him landing on this list (much less in the drama category). Thankfully, I was wrong, as Segal totally rocked it in The End of the Tour, which was undoubtedly one of 2015's best films, regardless of how little attention it received. Check out this great performance, right now!

#4 - Tom Hardy
(The Revenant)

With all of the hype surrounding Leo's pre-destined Oscar win, Tom Hardy's far-superior performance in The Revenant has faded into the background, which is quite disappointing, particularly considering what a big year the actor had. But, Hardy will keep on keeping on, and he will surely appreciate the love given to him by THE Tanner Jones. Kudos to Hardy for making me love the bad guy soooooo much more than the preemptive Best Actor winner.

#3 - Jacob Tremblay

(Room)

Brie Larson is likely to take home the Best Actress Oscar, this weekend, but the true star of Room missed out on even being nominated. When I first heard of Jacob Tremblay's performance in this film, I assumed that I would enjoy it, considering my love for child actors. But, until I saw the film, I couldn't truly wrap my head around the range that Tremblay displayed, even at such a young age. When his character, Jack, was hurting, Tremblay hurt. When Jack was sad, Tremblay was sad. And, most importantly, when Jack was happy and curious, Tremblay was happy and curious. Everything that this kid was able to bring to the screen screamed greatness and truth. Kudos to Room for impressing, and kudos to Tremblay for blowing me away!

#2 - Steve Carell

(The Big Short)

People love Steve Carell because he's Steve Carell, and, for me (and many others), he is fun to watch, regardless of what he is doing. But, if you listen to the excitement and joy that Carell has found in his recent dramatic plunge, it will truly make you appreciate his work even more. To know that he doesn't want to just be the funny guy makes him all the more funny and believable. Carell landed at number 2 on my list, last year, and, this year, he is playing second fiddle yet again. One day, he is sure to land on top! Carell is just so easy to love!

#1 - Mark Ruffalo

(Spotlight)

If there is one word that comes to mind, when thinking of Mark Ruffalo's turn as Mike Rezendes in Spotlight, it's passion. I'm not sure that I have ever witnessed an actor portraying a character's passion as well as Ruffalo did here, and he was able to portray the character's passion, without letting his own passion or acting get in the way. Ruffalo was able to take Mike Rezendes from a character you want to trust to a character you want to be to a real, living person that you want to become. If everyone on this earth was as passionate about their contribution to society as the reporters of Spotlight, this world would be a better place. Thankfully, we at least have the knowledge of this wonderful team of people that truly made a difference--none more so than Mike Rezendes. Kudos to Mark Ruffalo for bringing that to life and giving the most impactful performance of 2015.

Best Actress


#3 - Lupita N'yongo
(Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

While most people are waiting for Maz Kanata's backstory before making any sort of judgement on her character, I'm already 100% sold. She was easily my favorite part of The Force Awakens, and the way that Lupita N'yongo was able to bring her to life was absolutely perfect. I just want my own personal Maz. You know... for wisdom and supernatural initiations... stuff like that!

#2 - Brie Larson
(Room)

Brie Larson is so lovable. Not only is she gorgeous, but she truly appreciates her work and clearly has a knack for picking great roles. While I might always remember her as the goofy teenager that fell in love with Jonah Hill on 21 Jump Street, she will surely be remembered throughout the land for her amazing turn as Ma in 2015's indie wonder-film--Room. While I will say that she owes much of her success to the amazing talent of young Jacob Tremblay, there is no doubt that Larson can bring it. And, again, she's so easy to love!

#1 - Kate Winslet

(Steve Jobs)

Steve Jobs was one of my most anticipated films of 2016, and I must say that I was a bit disappointed in the end result. Thankfully, Kate Winslet provided a large silver lining to said disappointment with her portrayal of Joanna Hoffman. This character, although a real person, was very much a creation of Sorkin's need for more and more strong dialogue to mask his poor plot. Regardless, Winslet blew me away, and gave me a new appreciation for what she can do. Sure, I'm only like 20 years late to hop on her bandwagon, but she was kind enough let me ride along anyway! Best female performance of 2015, by far!

Best Film

Honorable Mention: Room, Spotlight



#5 - The End of the Tour

While The End of the Tour wasn't particularly beautiful or unique in its direction, the film's dialogue and emotion was so beautifully unique that the film really didn't need anything but two guys to read the words from the pages. The performances were good. The story was good. But, the film was able to say so much in all of its subtle goodness. There is a strong chance that you missed this film, over the course of the year, but let me be the force that pushes you toward The End of the Tour.

#4 - Chappie

As soon as I saw the first trailer for Chappie, I knew that the film was going to deserve more credit than it actually received. Blomkamp pitched the film as a sci-fi comedy. The trailer pitched the film as sci-fi action. And, the film was actually a very rich attempt to create a moral code for artificial intelligence and the future of conscience, which is quite a complicated subject matter. Unfortunately for Chappie, the critics weren't all pleased, but this particular critic was impressed by yet another underappreciated Blomkamp success. If you haven't seen Chappie, go watch it! If you watched Chappie with a cynical mind, go watch it again! Audience expectations are so important to a film's success, and that's exactly where Chappie missed the ship. I promise, this film is fantastic!

#3 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Ok, ok... Let's get down to business. There was no 2015 cinematic experience better than the one created by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. When "STAR WARS" flashed on the screen after the Lucasfilm logo, I felt like a kid in the best of candy stores, as my eyes widened and my heart leapt. From a critical perspective, it might not have been among the best of 2015, but, with regard to having fun at the theater, no film could top it. Kudos to my main man J.J. and the folks at Disney for giving us at least one good film... before their imminent destruction of the franchise.

#2 - Kingsman: The Secret Service

Modern, non-superhero, action flicks are given the worst rap of any film genre out there. In a world where sequels and indie flicks rule, there's not much room for the emergence of new "universes." Thankfully, Kingsman: The Secret Service says "Oh, really?!?... Watch this!" The action was great. The bloody, ruthless nature of the film was great. The performances were spot on. And, the direction of Matthew Vaughn was among the most genius that I saw in 2015. In less than two minutes, the film had already engulfed you in a world full of fun action that had a small moral core and a large appreciation for slicing people in half and taking out an extremist church. Kudos to Vaughn and to 20th Century Fox for being willing to offer up some fun action, without the word Marvel attached.

#1 - The Big Short

When I was a senior in high school, I had absolutely no clue what would become of my life, and, of course, at the time, I felt like I should probably have the answer. And, as the evolving moderate that I was preparing to become, my nightly routine typically included falling asleep to the beautiful sounds of The Colbert Report. One night, while waiting for Colbert, I happened to catch the second half of The Daily Show and had the chance to hear Michael Lewis, the author of The Big Short, pitch his book about a few nobodies who were able to game the entire financial system, as a result of its fraudulent, crumbling roots. Lewis talked for about 8 minutes that night, but those few minutes were enough to convince me to read his book, as soon as I could get my hands on it. And, considering I was a kid who never read for pleasure (or school, for that matter), his pitch was obviously great. As you might expect, at age 18, my understanding of the financial system and its complicated lingo was quite minute, which made it quite a brain-straining task to make it through The Big Short. Thankfully, about halfway through the book, Lewis literally gives you a gold star for making it to that point. The gold star was enough to make me think, "If adults are getting gold stars for reading this far, I must be doing pretty darn good." So, I powered through and finished what might be the most intriguing book that I've ever read in my life. My interest in finances and the world of business was officially piqued. And, I went on to get my degree in Finance. 

While I do believe that the Lord has a way of working things out, there is no doubt that The Big Short truly initiated my desire to devote four years of my life to learning about business and the financial system. And, while I didn't actually end up launching my career in the financial sector, I would guess that I am in the top 1% of all movie bloggers and film journalists, with regard to my understanding of the financial system... Not to boast or anything! So, I say all of that to let you know what The Big Short means to me, as an individual. And, as much as I expected the film to be a half-hearted attempt at telling a very, very complex story, it turned out to be the greatest film of 2015... by a laaaarge margin, in my book. 

Obviously, the film appealed to me as someone who loves listening to people talk about the financial world, but, when I put on my film critic hat, there just isn't anything that compared to The Big Short, this year, with regard to original and genius filmmaking. I mean, who knew that the director of Step Brothers had it in him?!? The pace of the film is perfect. The explanation of complex financial instruments is genius. The characters are so easy to love. I mean, this thing has it all! 

If you think that the film would be a bore to you, because you hate learning about finances, please take the time to check this thing out, particularly if you have any affinity for the amazing actors in the ensemble. If you have zero knowledge of the topic, you will still understand what's happening... I promise! Also, as someone who has a good grasp on the events of the financial crisis, I can say that this is a great film for anyone with a good understanding of finance. 

For any of you who actually took the time to read all of that, congratulations on being a victim of my not taking the time to write an entire review of The Big Short. 

To everyone out there in the free world, go watch The Big Short! THE best film of 2015!!!

Well, there you have it! Even in a year of less blogging I was able to pull together a great list of films and performances. Now, let's see what happens on Sunday night!